Diversity and Inclusion

The UNC School of Media and Journalism recognizes our leadership role in the University, academia and our professions. We developed diversity and inclusion mission and vision statements in spring 2016 with accompanying working goals to reflect an ongoing commitment to diversity in fulfilling teaching, research and service missions among faculty, staff, students and citizens of North Carolina. Our diversity and inclusion efforts reflect the MJ-school’s overarching strategic plan and criteria of the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

Definition of Diversity

Any point of difference among individuals, variety; especially among different types of people. It includes a recognition and appreciation of differences and finds value in these differences because they are necessary for promoting growth and learning for all community members. Diversity can be measured across many variables — age, race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic group, geography, religion, thought, philosophy, perspective, disability and veteran status.

Mission

The UNC School of Media and Journalism's mission is to train the next generation of media professionals and ultimately to ignite public conversation. Because meaningful and productive public conversation depends on the inclusion of diverse perspectives, the school is committed to providing an environment for teaching, learning and research that includes individuals from diverse backgrounds and with differing interests, lived experiences and goals; that reflects the diversity of the state of North Carolina and the world beyond; and that supports intellectual inquiry, dialogue and opportunities for lifelong learning and growth necessary to successfully engage in public conversation in a global marketplace of ideas.

Vision

The School of Media and Journalism cares deeply about diversity and inclusion. We recognize the influence our school has on future and current media professionals and scholars, and in doing so, will make diversity and inclusivity efforts an active part of our community, our curriculum and our goals.

Th diversity and inclusion commitment is rooted in the knowledge that diversity and inclusion benefit all faculty, staff, students and alumni who engage with and practice these tenets. For us, this means we will:

Create and maintain an environment that promotes civic participation, values understanding of each other’s backgrounds and experiences, and practices inclusion of all individuals.

Create and maintain a climate that offers equality of opportunities and plurality of thought and that supports the First Amendment’s commitment to the marketplace of ideas.

Cultivate mindfulness of the unconscious biases we all have and of institutional inequalities that can threaten progress within the school.

Recruit, hire, promote and retain diverse faculty and staff.

Provide classrooms that are and remain accessible to all students and faculty.

We will show our leadership in the community and on the issues associated with diversity and inclusion by exploring innovative ways to realize this mission within our school and University.

Our working goals focus on these areas:

To clearly define and publicize the school’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

To recruit and retain underrepresented populations to ensure the educational benefits of diversity and inclusion in faculty, staff, students, and executive, administrative and managerial positions.

To make high-quality diversity and inclusion education, orientation and training available to all members of the school.

To create and sustain a climate in which respectful discussions of diversity and inclusion are encouraged; take leadership in creating opportunities for interaction and cross-group learning.

To support further research to advance alignment of the University’s commitment to diversity and inclusion with the school’s commitment, to support innovative research and professional activity, and to become recognized thought leaders at the intersection of media, journalism and diversity and inclusion.

The Power of Giving

The work of the MJ-school's committee on diversity was made possible by a gift from the Charles S. and Margaret N. Nelson Endowment fund. This gift provides Dean Susan King unrestricted support to address the school's areas of greatest need.